Chant comments on rise of local retail

PIKE COUNTY - Retail is about to explode in Pike County, and even more is predicted.

Mavis Tire is building near Dunkin’ Donuts in Westfall. This fall, Peebles Department Store will open in the Kmart Plaza and Tractor Supply Company will open in the former Luhr’s Ace Hardware building on Route 6/209.

And two major retail developments, each anchored with a grocery store, are planned along the Route 739 corridor, one in Dingman, the other in Delaware Township.

“Between 2007 and 2012, retail was flat,” said Dave Chant of Chant Real Estate. “When I talked to developers, most would say, ‘We don’t have tenants, or those we have are not expanding.’ In 2012, we starting to hear from developers again.”

••• Boom began around 1989

Chant says commercial development in Pike County started around 1989 with the proposal of a project on 44 acres on Route 6 near Interstate 84, just outside of Milford.

The project didn’t happen, instead it was moved to Westfall and in 1992, the Kmart Plaza, adjoining strip mall and Grand Union grocery store became the first major retail development in the county.

From that development more retail was added through the years between Matamoras and the campus of Delaware Valley School. Now, Chant says, there is not much land between the school and the border of Matamoras for development.

There is a stretch of land between the school campus going toward Milford that is too close to the Delaware River and not suitable for development.

Tractor Supply Company is the first move toward Milford by a major retailer in years, Chant said.

“I probably have six other beautiful pieces of property between Tractor Supply Company and Milford. I envision more development there,” Chant said.

He believes the area in Milford Township, just before entering Milford borough, will be developed one day.

There are more retail possibilities on Route 739 in Dingman and Delaware, too. Chant said the two planned developments will be successful because there are thousands of houses along the Route 739 corridor.

••• Lake Region as well

A third likely corridor for commerce in Pike is on Route 6

“The other area you are likely to see more activity is at Route 6 and Route 507 from the stop light near Lake Wallenpaupack into Hawley, across the Lackawaxen River and just into Wayne County,” he said.

These retail centers closer to home will make life more convenient and cause more people who currently shop out of state on the commute home, to shop in Pike County instead, Chant said.